Post Conference
Date: 7-13-2004
Coach: Laquita Barton
Mentor: Jason
Huddleston
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Jason Huddleston
Laquita Barton
Laquita Barton has joined
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Jason Huddleston: hello
Laquita Barton: Hey...are
you ready to start
Jason Huddleston: sure
Laquita Barton: ok
Laquita Barton: Do you want
me to ask questions first?
Jason Huddleston: sure
Laquita Barton: Here
goes....
Laquita Barton: Jason, how
di you think your mentoring session went?
Jason Huddleston: It was really strange because Monica (the
teacher I worked with) was my partner last year
Laquita Barton: Oh really.
Did you work well together?
Jason Huddleston: The raport was
there but it was weird me trying to walk through one of her lessons, you
know?
Laquita Barton: In what
way?
Jason Huddleston: We get along great, but sometimes it's
easier to do this with someone who's not a friend and just a collegue
Jason Huddleston: you know?
Laquita Barton: That is what
I was thinking. Sometimes we take on a different role.
Jason Huddleston: Exactly
Laquita Barton: I do
understand.
Jason Huddleston: But once we got going, it went smoothly
Laquita Barton: How did you
deal with this?
Jason Huddleston: I focused mainly on the technology and not
so much on the specifics of the lesson
Jason Huddleston: I let her work through those with me (more
input from her than suggestions from me).
Laquita Barton: You
mentioned that you consulted with your wife concerning the diverse learners. How
did that work?
Jason Huddleston: You knows more
about that stuff than anyone on our campus.
Jason Huddleston: It does go to her head sometimes (lol).
Laquita Barton: Do you have
a
diagnostician?
Laquita Barton: Special Ed
Director?
Jason Huddleston: Yes
Jason Huddleston: Yes, don't get me started on the
Director
Laquita Barton: Will you be
working with her this year.....oh
Laquita Barton: Not
good?
Jason Huddleston: Our diagnostician is great at paperwork,
but depends on others for tech support
Laquita Barton: Will you be
able to input for AT needs?
Jason Huddleston: Let's say I wouldn't go to the SpEd director for any useful dealing with AT
Jason Huddleston: Yes, I look at lots of the catalogs for
AT
Laquita Barton: I'll bet you
are a real asset though for the students this year.
Jason Huddleston: It's very interesting
Laquita Barton: One of your
professional goals was to improve within the mentor/mentee relationship. Do you
feel that this goal was met?
Jason Huddleston: Yes.
Like I said it was a challenge with the high degree of familiarity that
exists between Monica and I.
Laquita Barton: What could I
as your coach, have done to help you more?
Jason Huddleston: But after working through the lesson plan,
she and I began to click and the plan began to improve
Jason Huddleston: My weakest area is
knowing the right questions to ask.
Jason Huddleston: I found myself asking very specific
questions that didn't allow much room for exploration
Laquita Barton: I am really
surprised....You seem very articulate.
Laquita Barton: What things
will you do differently on your next mentoring session?
Jason Huddleston: I'm more paranoid now about using the right
"mentorese"
Laquita Barton: I don't see
you as paranoid at all.
Jason Huddleston: The next session, I will come much more
prepared mentally
Laquita Barton: We all
probably will after this course.
Laquita Barton: Do you have
any questions?
Jason Huddleston: yeah, I think I'm beginning to see a
generic way to approach each situation and then work to the specifics.
Laquita Barton: What do you
mean?
Jason Huddleston: Like your questioning strategy. There are generic questions that you
could ask every time, but they would lead to a different outcome depending on
the teacher.
Jason Huddleston: Not a script, but something like that
Jason Huddleston: more like a template
Laquita Barton: Script can
be stifling....but a guide can surely organize ....
Laquita Barton: I get ya
Jason Huddleston: Overall, I felt comfortable with the
role
Laquita Barton: You seem to
come across as a person who can wing it successfully in most situations.
Laquita Barton: Lets save this....and start your coaching session...
Jason Huddleston: Ok
Date: 7-13-2004
Coach: Jason Huddleston
Mentor:
Laquita Barton
Jason Huddleston: Did you feel more comfortable with your
mentee after the first conference session?
Laquita Barton: Actually,
I have known my mentee for several years. Misti was a student in a housing class
I taught when she was in high school. We have a very good
rapport.
Jason Huddleston: Excellent. Did that level of relationship make your
role as the mentor easier or more difficult?
Laquita Barton: After
speaking to her on the phone the first time, asking if she would be interested
in working together, I received total support and we have gotten along
great.
Jason Huddleston: Would you say that planning was a strength for Misti or an area that needed some
improvement?
Laquita Barton: Actually,
my role as mentor was similar to having been her teacher. The only thing that
bothered me a little was....as you probably noticed in the audio file....she
called me Mrs. Barton insteat of
Laquita, which would have put me
Laquita Barton: more on
an even footing.
Laquita Barton: Misti had
great planning talents.
Jason Huddleston: Old habits die hard :)
Laquita Barton: She was
extremely organized and knew where she wanted to go with the
lesson.
Laquita Barton: They
do.
Jason Huddleston: How open was she to integrating
technology into the lesson?
Laquita Barton: Misti
showed an extreme interest in integrating technology into her lesson...actually
she was really excited that we are going through this training that someone
might someday be on her campus to help.
Laquita Barton: That was
encouragement to me.
Jason Huddleston: Was it difficult for you to develop tech
ideas that would match the goals of the lesson?
Laquita Barton: I see her
as one of the leaders in the Primary school using technology..but I may be
mistaken.
Laquita Barton: No. Misti
and I worked together beautifully in this respect. She had learned HyperStudio
in college and planned to use it throughout the lesson.
Jason Huddleston: Were there times when Misti was
uncomfortable with and idea or suggestion you might have had?
Laquita Barton: No. Misti
was receptive to my ideas....but she was really on top of things. She is really
tech-savy.
Jason Huddleston: I've wondered how to respond to a
teacher that isn't receptive to suggestions.
Jason Huddleston: Or feels being pushed into
something
Laquita Barton: Well. I
guess we just need to start with the lesson that she/he wants to work on....with
goals...and brainstorm about ways technology can enhance the development of the
presentation.
Laquita Barton: I think
that will be a very real situation sometimes.
Jason Huddleston: true
Laquita Barton:
Enthusiasm....examples......guidance.....
Jason Huddleston: Do you feel that you met your goal as
mentor for Misti?
Laquita Barton: You might
let them ride on your tractor...
Laquita Barton: You
bet.
Jason Huddleston: lol
Jason Huddleston: Anything you would do
different?
Laquita Barton: I felt
really comfortable working with Misti on the lesson.
Laquita Barton: Actually,I think I would get some
of the standards nailed down at first. I did talk to her about general goals and
objectives....but not the specific TEKS
Laquita Barton: Perhaps
that would be a better way...
Laquita Barton: I think I
would also meet with her earlier in person. We spoke about 3 times on the phone
before we got together.
Laquita Barton:
Jason
Laquita Barton: I think
we have it....but I'm not sure
Jason Huddleston: awesome, it's still here
Laquita Barton:
Technology is interesting sometimes....
Jason Huddleston: yes it is!
Jason Huddleston: I agree with you on the
TEKS
Jason Huddleston: I'm not looking forward to the amount of
familiarity I'll need to have with them
Laquita Barton: There
were some things that I was not aware of...until we met in
person...
Jason Huddleston: really
Laquita Barton: Misti has
several.....students who have learning difficulties in her class...she also has
an aide.
Laquita Barton: I could
have researched some of these situations had I known of them
earlier.
Jason Huddleston: so AT is probably an area of extreme
interest
Laquita Barton: In her
situation....yes.
Jason Huddleston: for her
Laquita Barton:
Exactly.
Jason Huddleston: Again, this is an area I would need to
improve in
Jason Huddleston: Getting my reconnaissance before the
first meeting
Laquita Barton: Her
principal approached her and asked her to take on these situations....and she
told her to bring them on....
Jason Huddleston: wow
Laquita Barton: This
lesson is similar to most projects that I tackle....Once I'm though with it....I
now know how to do it.
Laquita Barton: I guess
in education.....that is one of the goals...
Jason Huddleston: very true, have we covered
everything
Laquita Barton: I think
so.
Laquita Barton: Lets save.
Jason Huddleston: yes